The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has underscored the critical role of youth empowerment in driving national development as well as sustaining peace and security across the country.
Shaibu made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the combined graduation ceremony of participants in the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) Youth Empowerment Project.
The ceremony featured the graduation of 202 trainees comprising Batch 3 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) participants and Batch 2 Fashion Design trainees under the 2025 empowerment programme for barracks youths.
Represented by the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Isah Abdullahi, the COAS said empowering young people strengthens families, communities and, ultimately, the nation.
According to him, the programme is part of the Nigerian Army’s broader effort to build resilient families and empowered communities, which are essential to the development of a professional, adaptable and combat-ready force.
By investing in youth empowerment, Shaibu noted, the Army is contributing to the emergence of a resilient society—an indispensable foundation for a resilient fighting force.
He commended the President of NAOWA, Mrs. Safiyyah Shaibu, and her team for sustaining what he described as a highly impactful initiative that reflects the Army’s commitment to personnel welfare and community development.
Reiterating his command philosophy, the COAS said the transformation of the Nigerian Army goes beyond equipment and training, extending to the empowerment of communities that support the military.
Addressing the graduands, Shaibu said they had acquired relevant, practical and market-driven skills capable of making them self-reliant, productive and innovative.
He urged them to deploy their new skills not only to improve their own lives but also to uplift others, stressing that such efforts would promote social stability, economic growth and national development.
“These values align strongly with our collective aspiration for a peaceful and secure Nigeria,” he said.
Shaibu also lauded the instructors and facilitators for their dedication, noting that their efforts had helped build the confidence and competence of the participants.
He called on the media to continue highlighting initiatives of this nature, saying they showcase the human face of the military and reinforce civil-military cooperation.
The COAS reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to programmes that enhance youth empowerment through knowledge, skills and opportunity, rather than force, as part of its contribution to peace, stability and development.
The ceremony concluded with Shaibu congratulating the graduands and wishing them success in their future endeavours.
In her remarks, the President of NAOWA, Mrs. Safiyyah Shaibu, described the Youth Empowerment Project as more than a training programme, calling it a strategic investment in the future of young people.
She said the initiative reflects NAOWA’s unwavering commitment to empowerment and welfare, noting that sustainable support lies in building foundations, nurturing potential and enabling individuals to chart their own paths.
According to her, the ripple effect of such empowerment strengthens families, communities and the nation at large.
